Petroleum sample protective transport container

ABSTRACT

A petroleum sample protective transport container includes a main compartment for receiving petroleum sample jars, a foam insert to isolate and contain the petroleum sample jars, and a lid hingedly attached to the main compartment to cover the main compartment and secure the petroleum sample jars therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/576,985, filed Oct. 25, 2017 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 62/665,311, filed May 1, 2018, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

BACKGROUND

Storage tanks for petroleum products such as gasoline and oil areubiquitous in developed nations throughout the world. In the UnitedStates alone there are over one-hundred oil refineries, each havingmultiple storage tanks for storing gasoline produced at the facility.

In order to ensure the integrity of the storage tanks againstcontamination and to ensure the accuracy of the refining process,operators of refineries regularly test the stored petroleum product byretrieving samples from each tank and analyzing the samples in alaboratory. Likewise, purchasers of petroleum products regularly havesamples collected and analyzed by inspection companies to ensure qualityand to validate octane levels in the product to be delivered.

Petroleum samples from the tanks are typically collected by a technicianwho climbs to the top of the tank, typically via a ladder attached tothe side of the tank, while carrying a supply of empty sample jars in anopen aluminum frame carrying rack. One or more samples are retrievedfrom the tank, typically retrieved from various depths within thestorage tank. The collected samples are placed into corresponding glasssample jars, sealed with a lid and labeled, and placed back into theopen aluminum frame carrying rack. The technician then carries the rackcontaining the filled jars back down the ladder from the top of thetank. Once the technician arrives at his field vehicle, the samples aretransferred one at a time from the carrying rack to a large storagecontainer on the vehicle which provides a secure enclosure for samplejars. The jars are transported to an inspection lab where they aretransferred out of the storage containers on the vehicle, and back intothe open frame aluminum carrying racks to be carried into the lab fromthe field vehicle.

While the current system of collecting and transporting petroleumsamples is effective, it is not efficient and not without numeroussafety concerns. First, because the collected gasoline samples cannot betransported from the field to the lab in the open aluminum racks, thesamples must be handled multiple times as described above, transferredfrom the racks to the storage containers on the transport vehicles andback again for carrying into the lab. This is an inefficient use of theoperator's and inspection company's time and introduces multipleopportunities for human error in handling the sample jars.

Furthermore, because the aluminum carrying rack is open at the top andsides, any misstep by the technician can result in broken sample jars,rendering the samples useless. This creates significant inefficienciessince the operator must return to the tank farm, climb back to the topof tank, and pull as many as twelve new samples all over again.

It should be further be understood that broken sample jars of gasolinecreate a hazardous waste spill that must be remediated. Associated finesas well as the costs of hazardous waste remediation can range from tensto hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Finally, any dropped or spilled jars create a safety hazard to thetechnician due to exposure to the spilled gasoline. Dropping a rack offull sample jars creates the potential for a technician to be covered inup to three gallons of gasoline, exposure to broken glass shards, andexposure to an extremely dangerous slipping hazard on the tank stepsthat could result in a fall from sixty feet or greater.

Thus, it can be seen that there remains a need in the art for animproved system for safely and securely transporting petroleum samplesfor laboratory analysis.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention are defined by the claims below, not thissummary. A high-level overview of various aspects of the invention isprovided here to introduce a selection of concepts that are furtherdescribed in the detailed description section below. This summary is notintended to identify key features or essential features of the claimedsubject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determinethe scope of the claimed subject matter. In brief, this disclosuredescribes a petroleum sample protective transport container.

In one aspect, the container provides an integrated storage and carryingsystem for transporting petroleum sample jars that allows a technicianto collect samples in the glass sample jars, place the jars into thecontainer, close and seal the container, carry the container down thesteps of the shore tank, and place the container onto a truck or othervehicle for transport to a laboratory facility.

In one embodiment, the container comprises a lightweight, soft-sidedcarrying case, defining an inner cavity and having a hingedly attachedupper lid secured to the body of the case via a zipper fastener. A foaminsert configured to fill the cavity within the carrying case includes aplurality of cylindrical cutouts, each cutout configured to receive asample jar for transport. The foam insert includes a flat foam bottomportion upon which the bottoms of the jars rest. A plastic panel in thebottom interior of the carrying case is riveted to a second plasticpanel on the exterior bottom of the case. A flat foam top is sewn intothe lid to provide protection to the top of the sample jars when the lidis closed and secured.

The glass jars placed within the transport container of the presentinvention are isolated and cushioned from each other and the sides ofthe container itself, with the zippered lid of the container providing abarrier to leakage of liquid from the container in the event of breakageof one or more of the glass jars being transported.

In one embodiment, the sample container cutouts may be sized for quart,liter, pint, or other standard sample jar sizes.

In another embodiment, the container is configured with D-ringconnectors at each end to allow attachment and use of a shoulder strapto carry the container, along with flexible hand grip straps attached toeach side of the container to allow carrying the container using asingle hand if desired. The D-ring and shoulder strap design greatlyfacilitate a much safer means of carrying the loaded container and maybe used either alone or in combination with the hand grips because auser's hand grip strength can fade quickly while carrying a fully loadedrack of samples with only one hand. Another safety benefit of the D-ringand shoulder strap configuration is that inspection operators carryingthe transport container using the shoulder strap have both hands free touse the railings while climbing the storage tank steps, thusfacilitating a much safer transition up and down the tank steps.

In another aspect, high molecular density panels are positioned on thebottom interior and exterior of the container compartment, rivetedtogether through the bottom layer of the bag. The panels provide ahigh-strength protective layer to the bottom contained sample jars aswell as to the bottom of the bag, with the exterior panel further actingas a skid plate to allow the bottom of the bag to slide without catchingor tearing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail belowwith reference to the attached drawing figures, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a petroleum sample protectivetransport container in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the petroleum sample protectivetransport container of FIG. 1 shown with the lid of the outer case in anopen position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a foam insert of the petroleum sampleprotective container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial close-up view of a portion of the foam insert ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the petroleum sample protectivetransport container of FIG. 1 with the foam insert removed and showingthe interior of the outer case.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the petroleum sample protectivetransport container of FIG. 1 showing the bottom of the outer case.

FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of the petroleum sample protectivetransport container of FIG. 1 depicting a cut-away view of the lid ofthe outer case containing a foam protective panel.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the foam insert of FIG. 3 in use withpetroleum sample jars.

FIG. 9 is a side cut-away view of a portion of the petroleum sampleprotective transport container of FIG. 1 with a plurality of petroleumsample jars contained within.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the foaminsert of FIG. 3 including a petroleum liquid impervious coatingsurrounding the external surfaces.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of select embodiments of the invention is describedwith specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. But thedescription itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope ofclaims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in otherways to include different components, steps, or combinations thereofsimilar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction withother present or future technologies. Terms should not be interpreted asimplying any particular order among or between various steps hereindisclosed unless and except when the order of individual steps isexplicitly described. The terms “about” or “approximately” as usedherein denote deviations from the exact value in the form of changes ordeviations that are insignificant to the function.

Looking to FIG. 1, and with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a transportcontainer for petroleum sample jars in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention is depicted generally by the numeral100. The container 100 comprises a generally rectangular shaped outershell 102, comprised of front 104, back 106, bottom 108, and left 110and right 112 end panels defining a rectangular shaped inner cavity 114.A rectangular shaped lid 116 configured to cover the open top of thecontainer 100 is hingedly attached along one long edge to the upper edgeof the back pane 106, so that the lid may be positioned between a closedposition in which the lid covers the inner cavity 114 as shown in FIG.1, and an open position in which the lid reveals the inner cavity 114 asshown in FIG. 5. Preferably, the hingedly attached lid allows openingthe lid with respect to the main compartment to a least a two-hundredand sixty degree angle.

An interlocking slide fastener, or zipper 115 is affixed to the upperperimeter of the front 104 and left 110 and right 112 end panels, and tothe corresponding edges of the lid 116. The zipper 115 allows the lid116 to be secured to the main compartment of the container, using griptabs 117 to open and close the zipper as is known in the art.

Preferably, the outer shell 102, and the corresponding front, back,bottom, and end panels are comprised of a strong, lightweight,tear-resistant material. Most preferably, the outer shell 102 iscomprised of ballistic nylon.

In a preferred embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 10, a petroleumimpervious coating or cover 119 is attached or placed around the front,back, end, and bottom sides of the foam insert to contain any liquid inthe event of a spill or breakage of a sample jar. Most preferably, thecover 119 comprises an ultrasonically welded petrochemically resistantpoly vinyl material formed as a scrim bag that completely surrounds thefoam insert to provide a liquid-tight containment barrier to preventleakage of any petroleum samples or other liquid in the event of ruptureor breakage of any of the sample jars.

A pair of loop handgrips 118 a, 118 b, are attached to the front 104 andback 106 panels, respectively, with the loop portion of each extendingupwardly to reach beyond the midpoint of the lid, so that the loops canbe overlapped and joined within a handle grip 120 to form a carryinghandle for the container. Each handgrip 118 a, 118 b is formed from arectangular strap of material attached at opposite ends to thecorresponding front 104 and back 106 panels, leaving an unattachedportion forming the loop portion.

Each handgrip 118 a, 118 b is preferably formed from a strong, flexiblematerial, such as a woven fiber material. Most preferably each handgripis formed from ballistic nylon. Handle grip 120 is generally squareshaped, and is wrapped into a closed loop encasing the loop portion ofeach handgrip 118 a, 118 b therebetween. Preferably, handle grip 120includes a Velcro portion configured to allow the looped handle grip toadhere to itself to trap the handgrips therein. Most preferably, thehandle grip 120 is comprised of a strong, flexible material, and isaffixed to the looped portion of one of the handgrips 118 a, 118 b sothat it is always available to secure the looped portions together.

First and second D-shaped connector loops 122 a, 122 b are attached tothe left and right end panels 110, 112, respectively. The D connectorallows attachment of an elongated carrying strap 124 having a clip-onconnector at each end for attachment to the container 100. The connectedcarrying strap 124 extends between the two D connectors and provides alooped portion configured to fit over the shoulder to assist a user incarrying the container bag. A shoulder pad 126 positioned on thecarrying strap 124 provides a cushioned pad to protect the user, andpreferably includes a textured grip surface to prevent the pad 126 andcarrying strap 124 from sliding off of the user's shoulder, or fromrepositioning itself as the weight of the container is shifted whilebeing carried. Most preferably, the D connector loops 122 a, 122 b arelocated as near to the box center of gravity as possible so the casedoes not rotate when picked up using the shoulder strap.

A document pouch 128 is affixed to the front panel 104, to allowdocumentation associated with one or more samples being carried in thecontainer to be stored in association with those panels. A business cardpouch 120 on the lid 116 allows an owner or user of the container toinsert identification, such as a business card, and preferably providesa transparent viewing window so that information is visible withoutremoving the card from the pouch. In further embodiments, otherinformational or adornment emblems or badges may be attached to the lidor other surfaces of the container, such as a “Class 3 DOT Flammable”emblem indicating that the container and samples are approved for overthe road transport.

Turning to FIGS. 2 through 4, a foam insert 130 is positioned within theinner cavity 114 of the container 110. The foam insert 130 includes aplurality of cutout receptacles 132 (twelve in the embodiment shown)configured to receive a petroleum sample jar. An indicia 134 of the sizeof sample jar the foam insert is configured to hold is preferablyembossed in the top surface of the foam insert. For example, in theembodiment shown, the receptacles are sized to receive quart sizepetroleum sample jars, with the letter “Q” embossed as the indicia 134.Inserts configured to accept other sized jars will preferably includethe appropriate indicia 134, such as “L” for liter sized jar or “P” forpint sized jars. Receptacles of various sizes may be employed within thescope of the present invention. It should be further understood thatwhen configured for other sized jars, such as liter or pint jars, thatthe foam insert 130 may include more receptacles 132 (e.g., fourteen)within the same footprint as the twelve receptacles shown in theexemplary embodiment depicted for quart sized jars.

Looking to FIG. 3, foam insert 130 is preferably formed from a pluralityof foam layers 136, laminated or otherwise joined together in a stackedconfiguration. As seen in FIG. 9, and as will be discussed in moredetail below, the cutout receptacles extend through all of the foamlayers except for the bottom layer 138, which remains intact to providea cushioned base for the contained sample jars. Preferably, the foamlayers 136 are comprised of polyethylene 220 foam. Bottom foam layer 138is preferably at least one inch in thickness to provide sufficientcushioning for the contained sample jars. Preferably, each of the foamlayers 136, excluding bottom layer 138, is approximately one inch tothree inches thick. Most preferably, each of the foam layers, excludingbottom layer 138, are of approximately equal thicknesses. In otherembodiments, the foam layers 136 may be of any thickness or thicknessesrequired to form a receptacle of an appropriate height to receive thedesired petroleum sample jar.

In a preferred embodiment, the foam insert 130 is formed to a heightapproximately one-half inch greater than the height of the petroleumsample jars to be contained, such that the top surface of the jar's lidlies just below the top surface of the foam insert when the jar isinserted and seated within an opening in the foam insert. In the case oftypical one-liter size sample jars, the height of the jar isapproximately ten inches.

In further embodiments, the foam insert may be formed of a unitary foamblock, with the receptacles cut or formed therein. Other configurationsof foam layers are anticipated by and within the scope of the presentinvention.

Turning to FIG. 4, a close-up view of one of the receptacles 132 formedin the foam insert 132 shows the upper three foam layers 140 visibleviewing into the open top of the receptacle 132

Looking to FIG. 7, an additional foam layer 142 is positioned in lid116, within a pocket formed between two layers of material forming thelid 116. Preferably, foam layer 142 is formed of the same material asthe foam layers 136 comprising the foam insert 130, such as polyethylene220 foam. Preferably, additional foam layer 142 is approximatelyone-half inch in thickness.

In alternative embodiments, foam layer 142 may be affixed to the innersurface of lid 116, or may be an unattached, separate piece that isplaced over the top of the foam insert 130 that is secured between thelid 116 and the upper surface of the foam insert 130 when the lid isclosed.

Looking to FIGS. 5 and 6, a rigid interior bottom plate 144 ispositioned within the inner cavity 114, lying on the upper surface ofthe bottom panel 108 of the container. The rigid interior bottom plate144 provides a rigid support for the bottom of the container and thesample jars contained therein, and distributes load and incurred shockacross the plate. A rigid exterior bottom plate 146 is positioned alongthe bottom surface of the bottom panel 108, substantially in alignmentwith the rigid interior bottom plate 144. A plurality of rivets 150extend through the interior bottom plate 144, through the bottom panel108, and through the exterior bottom plate 146, to secure the two plates144, 146 together with the bottom panel 108 sandwiched therebetween.Preferably, the interior and exterior bottom plates 144, 146 are made ofhigh molecular density plastic.

Most preferably, the rivets 150 are aluminum rivets extending throughthe bottom plates 144, 146, with rounded heads lying substantially flushwith the corresponding panel.

Preferably, the interior and exterior bottom plates 144, 146 compriserounded corners to avoid potential cracking and shock concentrationassociated with square corners.

Turning to FIG. 8, a typical petroleum sample jar, such as a BostonRound Amber Glass bottle, is designated by numeral 152. FIG. 8 alsoshows a plurality of sample jars 152 positioned within receptacles ofthe foam insert 130, with the lids of the jars lying approximatelyone-half inch below the upper surface of the insert. As discussed above,the foam insert may be configured to accept any desired size of samplejars, such as thirty two ounce Boston Round Amber Glass sample jars,having a height of 8.69 inches, a circumference of 12 inches, and anouter diameter of 3.6 inches, with a weight of 1.6 ounces. It should beunderstood that the foam insert may be configured to accept samplebottles of virtually any size or material.

Turning to FIG. 9, a side cut-away view of the transport container forpetroleum sample bottles of the present invention depicts a portion ofthe container with a plurality of sample jars 152 placed withinreceptacles 132 formed in the foam insert 132, comprised of a pluralityof foam layers 136. The jars 152 rest on the bottom foam layer 138, asdescribed previously, with the rigid interior bottom plate 144 and rigidexterior bottom plate 146 providing shock protection as also describedpreviously. The additional foam layer 142 within the lid 116 providesprotection to the enclosed sample jars 152 when the lid 116 is closed.

In further embodiments, a reflective strip is affixed to at least oneend or side of the lid, preferably a reflective strip is attached ateach end of the lid.

From the above, it can be seen that the transport container of thepresent invention is well suited for securing and transporting petroleumsample jars.

Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as wellas components not shown, are possible without departing from the scopeof the claims below. Embodiments of the technology have been describedwith the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternativeembodiments will become apparent to readers of this disclosure after andbecause of reading it. Alternative means of implementing theaforementioned can be completed without departing from the scope of theclaims below. Identification of structures as being configured toperform a particular function in this disclosure and in the claims belowis intended to be inclusive of structures and arrangements or designsthereof that are within the scope of this disclosure and readilyidentifiable by one of skill in the art and that can perform theparticular function in a similar way.

What is claimed is:
 1. A petroleum sample protective transportcontainer, comprising: a carrying case comprising a main compartmenthaving an inner cavity; a foam insert configured for placement withinthe inner cavity, the foam insert comprising a plurality of receptaclesconfigured to receive a petroleum sample jar; and a bottom foam layerpositioned beneath the foam insert.
 2. The petroleum sample protectivetransport container of claim 1, wherein the bottom foam layer is affixedto the foam insert.
 3. The petroleum sample protective transportcontainer of claim 1, further comprising a lid configured to cover theinner cavity of the main compartment.
 4. The petroleum sample protectivetransport container of claim 3, wherein the lid comprises a foam panel.5. The petroleum sample protective transport container of claim 1,further comprising a first rigid plate positioned within the innercavity, between the foam insert and an interior bottom surface of themain compartment.
 6. The petroleum sample protective transport containerof claim 5, further comprising a second rigid plate positioned on abottom surface of the carrying case, wherein the second rigid plate isattached to the first rigid plate.
 7. The petroleum sample protectivetransport container of claim 1, further comprising a liquid imperviouscoating applied to an outer surface to the foam insert.
 8. The petroleumsample protective transport container of claim 7, wherein the liquidimpervious coating comprises a scrim bag.
 9. The petroleum sampleprotective transport container of claim 1, the further comprising afastener configured to secure the lid to the main compartment, whereinthe fastener provides a barrier to egress of spilled liquid from thecontainer.
 10. A petroleum sample protective transport container,comprising: a carrying case comprising a main compartment having aninner cavity; a foam insert configured to conform to and positionedwithin the inner cavity, the foam insert comprising a plurality ofreceptacles configured to receive a petroleum sample jar; and a bottomfoam layer affixed to a lower surface of the foam insert.
 11. Thepetroleum sample protective transport container of claim 10, wherein thefoam insert comprises a plurality of foam panels in stackedrelationship.
 12. The petroleum sample protective transport container ofclaim further comprising a lid configured to cover the inner cavity ofthe main compartment.
 13. The petroleum sample protective transportcontainer of claim 12, wherein the lid comprises a foam panel.
 14. Thepetroleum sample protective transport container of claim 10, furthercomprising first and second rigid plates positioned within the innercavity between the foam insert and an interior bottom surface of themain compartment, and on an exterior bottom surface of the maincompartment, respectively.
 15. The petroleum sample protective transportcontainer of claim 14, wherein the first and second rigid plates areattached to each other via fasteners extending through a bottom panel ofthe carrying case.